Rail-connecting plate



Jun 15 T926. 1,588,779

s. soRENsEN RAIL GONNECTING XLATE Filed Deo. 4, 1925 CTI Patented June 15, 1926. i i' i i UNITED; srares rarsnr carica.

*www SAM SORENSEN, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

RAIL-CONNECTING PLATE. Application filed December Il, 1925. Serial No. 73,123.

My invention relates toconnecting means end the lever arm is spaced from the web. to be employed in securing together the The angle 12 ot the fish plate forms a fulends of adjacent rails in the constructing Crum bearing against the rail base, the lower of railway tracks. arm oit the'lever extending outwardly there- 60 It is an object of the invention to provide from in an approximately horizontal posia connecting device for'use between the rail tion. The outer end of the lower arm 13 ends to secure them together so that no of the plate is beveled as shown in Fig. 3, relative vibra-tion or play can take place. lt to bear against the sloping wall 6 of the is desired to make a rigid joint wherein the ridge 8. Y rails are gripped tightly and rmly together rThe upper portion l() ot theV lishk plate is to prevent motion ot' one rail relative to the secured to the webs ot the rail ends by the other. The invention consists in the conusual transverse bolts l-l'. The lower end of struction and arrangement of the parts makthe lish plate is also secured to the base plate ing up the joint which will be hereinafter y means of cap screws 15. These screws particularly set out. c are h'tted within an outer notch or recess VReferring to the drawings herewith, Fig. in the side of the tish plate and into openl is a top plan view ot a rail joint enibodyings in the inner sideot' the ridges 8 upon ing my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevathe plate and` extended downwardly through tion ther-e015, and Fig. 3 is a section through the plate. the rail at one side of the joint showing lft is 'contemplated that in operation the an end elevation of the invention. Like weight oit a passing train upon the rail l numerals ot reference designate like parts will force the rail and the tish plates downin all the views. l wardly under a slight compression so that The present invention is an improvement the outer arms of the fish plates will bear upon my prior invention patented Februagainst the diverging walls 6 of the rail ary 10th, 1925, Serial No. 1,526,250. channel, thus forcing the arms. 13 oi the le- The drawing illustrates the adjacent ends vers formed through the plates, upwardly of two rails oli' an ordinary railway track and thus throwing the upper side 11 of the in which the rail has an upper head 1, upon plate inwardly, and more securely clamping G which the car wheel may run, and having the rail. In this manner, the slight compresa base 2, the head and base being connected sion dueV to a passing tram acts to more seby a web 3. This is the usual and ordinary Curely grip the rail so that no relative moverail. I provide at the joint a base plate/fl, ment of the parts can take place. The edect which has in its upper tace a channel 5 of of this Shape of lish plate is to throw the 00 the proper width and depth to receive the upper end l1 inwardly and bearing down base 2 ot' the rail. The walls of the channel upon the angle or fulcrum 12, holding the above the rail base diverge upwardly, as rail base firmly against the base plate 4t. shown at 6, a shoulder 7 being formed ini It has been found that ajoint thusV made the plate between the sloping walls 6 and will allow no appreciable movement between 95 the channel 5, in which the rail base tits. the ends of the rails, the joint being entirely Beyond the longitudinal ridge 8, upon without play, so that no appreciable Wear which the walls 6 are formed, the plate is occurs at the joint. The advantages of such extended laterally at 9, and provided with construction will be apparent to those skilled notches or recesses 10 therein to receive the in the art without further description. 100 usual spikes, by means of'which the rail is `What I claim and desire to protect by secured to the cross-ties. Letters Patent is:

The iish plates employed at the rail joint 1. A rail joint including a base plate havare angular in cross section, somewhat siming an upper channel to receive the rail ilar to the usual angle iron. Each plate is base, shoulder at each side of said channel, intended to form a sort of bell crank lever, an upwardly extending ridge at each side of as will be recognized from Fig. 3. The said channel said ridges having downwardly upper arm 10 of the lever is formed by that converging walls adjacent said shoulders, part of the plate extending upwardly along fish plates having an upright portion spaced the web 3 of the rail, and having an upper `from the rail except at its upper and lower 110 end 11 ttting against the web 3 and beneath ends, horizontal members on said fish plates the head l of the rail. Belowthis upper contacting with the rail base at one side and said converging walls at the outer side, and means to secure said fish plates' on said rail.

2. A rail joint including a base plate having a longitudinal channel to receive the rail base ends, fish plates angular in cross section, each thus forming a central fulcrum shaped to fit upon said rail base, an upper arm bearing against the rail beneath the head thereof, a laterally extending lower arm and an inclined wall on said base plate arranged to engage said lower arm to force it inwardly and upwardly, whereby said rail is firmly clamped, and means to clamp said fish plates upon sail rail, comprising cap screws engaging in recesses in the sides of said plates and in openings in said base plate.

3. ln a rail joint, a base plate having an .upper rail receiving channel therein, the sides thereof being formed with shoulders at the level of said base and outwardly diverging walls above t-he said shoulder, angular shaped fish plat-es each having a lower member bearing on said rail at one side and upon said diverging wall at the other, means securing said fish plates to said rail, said base plate and the outer edge of said fish plate having co-opcrating openings, and clamping screws in said openings.

4. In a joint for rails having a base member, an upper head and a connecting web, the combination of a base plate, and fish plates angular in tranverse section, thc central angle of each of which forms a fulcrum, the upper arm shaped to fit beneath said head against said web, and a lower arm adapted to rest on said base plate and be forced upwardly relative to said base plate by veight on said rail, means to clamp said fish plates to said rail, and means to secure said plates to said base plate.

5. A rail joint includinga base plate hav ing'an upper rail receiving channel therein, the sides of said channel diverging upwardly, angular shaped fish plates each having' an upright member bearing against the rail at its upper and lower edges and spaced therefrom between said edges and a hori- Zontal member bearing against said diverging walls at its outer edge, said fish plates and base plate having openings along their meeting edges and cap screws in said openings.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature this 21st day of November A. D. 1925.

SAM SORENSEN. 

